The Tax Ombud/Chief Executive, Office of the Tax Ombud, John Nwabueze, has pledged to work with tax and revenue authorities at both national and subnational levels to improve operational efficiency.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife on Thursday, Nwabueze gave the assurance at the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board held in Lagos.
The JRB comprises revenue boards of the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory Revenue Service and other tax and revenue-generating agencies.
Speaking on the topic, “The role of the Tax Ombud in facilitating dispute resolution and strengthening trust in the tax system in the context of emerging tax reforms,” Nwabueze described the Office of the Tax Ombud as a major institutional innovation.
He said the office was established as an independent and impartial body to protect taxpayers’ rights and promote administrative justice within the tax and revenue framework.
According to him, the office serves as a bridge between taxpayers and revenue authorities by receiving and investigating complaints and facilitating resolution through mediation and conciliation.
He noted that such mechanisms are faster, more cost-effective and less adversarial than litigation, adding that the office also identifies recurring issues in tax administration and recommends reforms to improve efficiency, fairness and transparency.
He said the office builds public trust by providing an independent platform to resolve taxpayer grievances without the high cost of litigation.
Highlighting its functions, Nwabueze listed impartial mediation, a watchdog role against arbitrary fiscal policies, taxpayer rights education, accountability mechanisms and systemic improvement.
He, however, stressed that the Office of the Tax Ombud “does not determine tax liability nor does it replace the courts or the Tax Appeal Tribunal” but focuses on ensuring that tax administration is conducted in a fair, transparent and accountable manner.
“The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) is a bold and progressive effort to harmonise revenue systems, expand the tax base and improve compliance,” he added.
While acknowledging that reforms often come with challenges, he said the office plays a key role in addressing friction in the evolving tax regime and supporting revenue authorities to improve efficiency.
He said, “The OTO helps to ensure that compliance with the new tax laws is driven not by fear or coercion, but by trust and understanding.”
Nwabueze called for stronger collaboration between the office and tax authorities, noting that effective revenue administration depends on the seamless integration of all stakeholders, with the OTO serving as a critical pillar.
He urged revenue-generating agencies at the federal, state and local levels to prioritise inclusion by integrating the office into tax engagements and policy dialogues.